MELAKA PART OF 21ST CENTURY MARITIME SILK ROUTE

Malacca Begins Work for International Port

By Aiswarya Lakshmi

Sunday, February 22, 2015, 1:27 AM

Image: Malacca Port Authority

 Soon after China identified Malaysia's Malacca as part of its 21st Century Maritime Silk Route economic belt (MSR), an international shipping port is being planned for the state.

 

The existing port in Malacca would be expanded to meet international standards, informed the Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, as per a report in the Star.

 

A vast opportunity awaits Malacca under MSR, and the government will start with the port expansion as part of the initiative, the minister added.

 

The authorities are still planning the project to make Malacca port part of the Chinese MSR initiative, and Liow has discussed this with his counterpart from China. He added that his ministry had suggested that cruise liners ferry tourists from China directly to Malacca through the MSR maritime route.

 

Liow said the MSR was mooted by Chinese President Xi Jinping as China was eager to increase its maritime cooperation and explore trade opportunities. 

OCEANARIUM MELAKA OPENS

Oceanarium Melaka targets 200,000 visitors this year

Published on: Friday, January 30, 2015

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Melaka: The Shore Oceanarium Melaka, a commercial aquarium centre here, has target 200,000 visitors from both locally and overseas for this year. 

General Manager Choo Chert Kian said the latest tourist attraction in the state has managed to draw more than 20,000 visitors since starting operations early last month. 

"Oceanarium Melaka has on display about 500 marine and land exhibits, with 300 being fishes from various countries. 

"We also have marine life that are rarely seen by Malaysians such as the obor-obor, lionfish and ikan batu from countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Hawaii in the United States," he said. 

He said his company was also planning to build another aquarium centre under phase two of the venture and this is expected to be ready in 2017. – Bernama 

The Shore Oceanarium Melaka is situated within the Shore Shopping Gallery next to the Melaka River and is open daily from 10.30 am to 9 pm. 

Tickets are priced at RM28 for adults, RM18 for children and RM18 for senior citizens above 60. –Bernama 

QONG XI FA CAI IN THE YEAR OF THE GOAT

As the Chinese New Year of the Goat is fast approaching, we want to extend our best wishes to all the owners and tenants of our Business Centre. May the New Year of the Goat brings you happiness, wealth, prosperity and health to you and your family.

QONG XI FA CAI AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015.

BY 2016, MELAKA WILL HAVE IBIS MELAKA HOTEL TO CATER TO OVERSEAS VISITORS

World renown hotelier, Ibis will be constructing their own IBIS MELAKA HOTEL. The hotel will be located at the former Savoy cinema just besides Melaka infamous 9 Storey flats at Jalan Bendahara.

This 6 storeys hotel will cost around MYR 200 million in investment by the Ibis Group of companies with local partners. Designed with a classical look, it is expected to open for business by 2016. More and more international renown hotels have started to invest in Melaka as they see the historical and commercial aspects in Melaka after Melaka was added into UNICEF World Heritage City in 2008. Plaza Ramada Hotel is here together with Swiss Garden Hotel, Holiday Inn and other international boutique hotels.

The Melaka River bank will spur future opening of riverside restaurants. Hopefully, in another 5 years time, Melaka Riverwalk will be a hub of activities whereby it will be the walk that links the historical part of Melaka with the residential hub of hotels being located in the upstream of Melaka River.

THE SHORE @ MELAKA RIVER

Newly opened, The Shore, is located besides the Melaka River Bank. Swiss Garden hotel and residences are also situated here. A aquarium is opened for business. Tang's, the renown Singapore owned departmental store is also here at the shopping mall. Besides cheek fusion restaurants and a Spanish restaurant have also opened shop here.

Opposite the Melaka River, the newly refurbished Cathay Cinema has been turned into Melaka's own Panggung Bangsawan where cultural shows and performances will be presented to the public in the future. Let us make and turn our Melaka River into a hub of festivities and cultural performances.

GOODBYE 2014, WELCOME 2015

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

GOODBYE 2014, WELCOME 2015

In a few hours, we will say goodbye to 2014 and welcome in the New Year 2015. It has been a bad year for MALAYSIA as many unpredicted events occurred that affected MALAYSIA and Malaysians in general. 3 air disasters within one year are very bad. Started with the disappearance of MH 370, the shooting down of MH 17 and days before the end of 2014, we got the bad news of AirAsia plane going down in the Java sea due to a severe storm.

We were struck by landslides in Cameron highlands and before we know it, floods submerged Kelantan, Trengganu, Pahang, Perak and Johor. More than 250,000 people had to be evacuated from rising flood waters. Emergency supplies failed to reach the flood victims on time due to flooded roads, damaged roads, lack of power supply and clean water.

We hope 2015 will bring good news to MALAYSIA and Malaysians. Let the rain wash away our bad luck of 2014 so that we can start the New Year clean in our thoughts and action. Bless us in prosperity, harmony, and live together with tolerance and forgiveness. Posted by TW Kang at 12:50 AM

MELAKA RIVER FACELIFT HAS PAID OFF

03 June 2014| last updated at 02:18AM

Idris: Sungai Melaka facelift has paid off

MALACCA: When the Malacca government embarked on the first phase of the Sungai Melaka rehabilitation and beautification project in 2001, it became a subject of ridicule, with some critics saying the smelly and dirty river would never improve.

However, efforts have paid off handsomely, as the river is now famous for the Malacca River Cruise, a 45-minute boat ride that attracted 1.2 million passengers last year, generating RM8.1 million in income for the state.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said the number was part of the 14.3 million tourists who visited the state last year, of which 75 per cent were locals.

He said the success proved that river conservation activities could increase the number of tourist arrivals and boost the state’s economy.

“We are targeting 1.5 million people to experience the Malacca River Cruise this year from the 15 million who are expected to visit the state.”

He said this at the opening of the Malacca River International Festival 2014 International Seminar at Ramada Plaza here yesterday.

Present was Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

Idris said the state government aimed to make Sungai Melaka comparable to the San Antonio River Fiesta in Texas, the United States, in terms of facilities and activities offered.

Palanivel said the state government must continue to be committed to improving the water quality in Sungai Melaka and other rivers in the state.

He said the goal was to achieve clean-river status, with a Class II water quality index, adding that as of February, Sungai Melaka was still classified as Class III, or in the “slightly polluted” category.

“I will discuss with the Tourism Ministry on how we can cooperate on the matter and provide an annual allocation to the state government to improve the cleanliness of rivers.”

Under National Water Quality Standards, a Class III river can be used to supply drinking water, but only with extensive treatment.

A river’s cleanliness can be classified in five categories, with Class I being the cleanest and Class V being the most polluted.

Datuk Seri Idris Haron (second from left) and Datuk Seri G. Palanivel (second from right) hitting a gong to mark the opening of the Malacca River International Festival 2014 International Seminar at Ramada Plaza in Malacca yesterday.

Read more: Idris: Sungai Melaka facelift has paid off - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/idris-sungai-melaka-facelift-has-paid-off-1.610386#ixzz33bPfFFQg